Stonemasonry Construction

I have been curious as to why some masonry with seemingly identical materials and installation methods is more enduring than others. So I looked into it and came to several conclusions that amount to us having very sloppy standards in comparison to our historic counterparts. We are very much in a rush to the detriment of not just masonry but a lot of crafts. 

Stonemasonry is often incorrectly designed, specified and bedded, seasoned badly and installed poorly with the wrong mortar. We have concentrated on and glorified the cutting of stone as being the most important aspect, incorrectly. We are pretty good at banker masonry but the quality of fixing is very low. 

The knowledge required to affix to a high standard is predominately in the hands of graduate professionals nowadays and they are quite simply terrible at interacting with masons or even appreciating that they might have to impart some of this knowledge for it to be utilised. This is highly optimistic, most of them don't know shit either. Eg. every mason knows that aerial lime gains strength through compaction then just use identical affixing methods to OPC.  Graduates know that rainwater detailing is vital, then ignore it in favour of how the project looks at the design and completion phases rather than years down the line or for budgetary reasons. 

Our society is too greedy to do proper stonemasonry in all but a few scenarios. 

Specification and Design

No consideration for seasoning correctly

Mispecified stone eg. sandstone and limestone which is entirely unsuitable for civils applications being used in a demanding manner like sawn paving, persistently damp wall bases and coping stones

No rainwater detailing, hood moulds driplines, bullnoses etc.

Little understanding in how to restore or adapt existing buildings resulting in lots of boxes inside ruined walls

Quarrying and Seasoning

Stone selection, some larger quarries will do this but some masons and specifiers don't understand this, the biggest issue being freestone and how its bedded

Most sedimentary stones should be cut to final form and then seasoned

Seasoning can have dramatic effects on the stones durability and the mortar

Cutting and Storing

There is a lot of discussion on cutting practices, eg. hand is best over grinder. Its really not, chiselling stone can create weak points with micro fractures where as grinding doesn't. Stone should be cut wet which would make a huge difference to the health of banker masons. This is pure greed and incompetence by our graduate counterparts, 1-3 years planning is all it would take. Order the stone when you're breaking ground or purchasing. 

Stone is often allowed to season unprotected meaning biologicals can get into it and the quarry sap is diluted and not allowed to evaporate and deposit. Green stone is not cool. 

Mortar and Installation

Lime is not a fix-all solution, no one lime is fit for everything. No one mortar or even method is suitable for every application. 

Quarry sap and existing damp can impair lime mortars ability to breathe and its structure very easily

Lack of compaction and excess water resulting in dusty and weak mortar

Shims and grout is a poor method that should be used as a last resort not as standard working practice. 

Too simple in almost every aspect inc. bedding technique, mortar preparation, docking etc. I see supposed fixer masons with one little rubber mallet for everything...ridiculous. Docking immediately prior to bedding is counterproductive. Sloppy quickly made mortar. 

Maintenance and Aftercare

Needs cleaning, painting and sealing more often, these were yearly occurrences by our historic counterparts. We ask it to endure more whilst we maintain it less. Pollution, acid rain, heavy traffic etc.

Irresponsible about the aesthetics allowing too much rot because it looks pretty

Replacing poorly functioning lime mortars before they have the opportunity to damage stone. Salt laden mortars could be replaced yearly on roadsides to remove the salt they absorb as part of their sacrificial nature. This never happens, the stone is left damp to rot and then be replaced, kind of defeating the point of using lime and costing people thousands more than it has to. This is stupid and every surveyor should know this.